Recessed lighting fixture



Sept. 3, 1957 H. M. GERSTEL RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 28, 1954 v INVENTOR. I Ha JfyM Gefisfel n w A TTOBNL'Y Sept. 3, 1957 Filed Oct. 28, 1954 H. M. GERSTEL RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B rlc. 17

22 6 122:::IIIIiIfII f9 Z5 u G Y INVENTOR. Hang/M Gensie A TTQQNE'Y "atet 2,805,327 Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Pncnssnn LiGHTlNG r Harry M. Gerstel, Lawrence, N. Y., assignor to Gotham Lighting Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Qctober 23, 1954, Serial No. 465,360

1 Claim. (Cl. 24G78) The present invention relates to a recessed low brightness down light, and it particularly relates to a lighting unit which is designed to be readily mounted into a ceiling and at the same time which will give the desired illumination without undue brightness.

it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, readily recessed ceiling fixture which will be optically precise to give wide angle distribution and which will eliminate brightness at the aperture.

Another object is to provide a novel, recessed, low brightness ceiling fixture which will give uniform illumination on a horizontal plane, and which may be widely used for stores, theatres, homes, offices and the like.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an inverted bowl for the principal part of the fixture, which is recessed into the ceiling and which has a curvature much steeper than that of a semi-sphere, yet substantially less steep than an involute curve.

The preferred compound curve will fall about midway between a semi-sphere of about the same height and an involute curve of the same height, and it also will be much shallower than a parabolic reflector or curve.

It is found that with this compound the curved wide angle distribution is obtained with a sharp visual cut off at 45. The resultant broad distribution and low brightness may be achieved through a small aperture with interior shields and baflies to trap all spill light and eliminate brightness at the aperture.

With such a fixture surprisingly high illumination is possible with 200 watt or 300 watt standard inside frosted lamps with resultant uniform illumination on a horizontal plane.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the fixture as recessed into a ceiling.

2 is a top plan view of the fixture of Fig. 1. 1g. 3 is a bottom plan View.

4 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 4-4 of Pi 3 upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view similar to Fig. '3 of an alternative form of structure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse, sectional view upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a compound curve reflector A having a socket box B receiving a porcelain connector socket C. Mounted within the reflector A is the bulb D. The lower portion of the. reflector is provided with the baffle E which is closed off by the aperture plate F. The ceiling G is recessed to receive the unit.

The reflector A, which constitutes the primary particle of the present invention, has an interior reflector face 10 which has a curvature steeper than a semi-sphere of the same height yet more shallow than either an involute or parabolic curve. This curvature will extend from the point 11 down to the point 12.

The upper portion of the reflector is connected with a cylindrical neck 13 having the inturned top flange 14. This top flange 14 is mounted on the bottom face 15 of the junction box B. The junction box B receives the porcelain socket C having the electric leads 16 which pass through the sleeve 17.

The lower edge portion 12 of the reflector 16 has the outstanding flange 13 and the downturned flange 19 which fits around the cylindrical member 20. The cylindrical member 20 has a base flange 21 and an upstanding inside baffle 22 which raises to a height at 23 above the lower edge 12 of the reflector It).

This bafl'le E acts as a shield to absorb and trap all spill light and it will be finished in matte blacktone. The aperture plate F has a central aperture 24 which is 6 inches in diameter for a maximum diameter of 11 to 12 inches for the fixture.

This aperture plate F supports the lower portion 21 of the baffle E and extends outwardly at 25 into the edge 26 of the ceiling.

Encircling the cylindrical plate 20 is the angle member 27 which has the upright flange 28 and the horizontal flange 29.

The lighting fixture as shown will give a uniform illumination of low brightness at a desired low horizontal position below the ceiling and the general service 200 watt or 300 watt inside frost lamps may be readily replaced through the central 6 inch diameter aperture 24 by hand or with a pole without removing any parts.

The flush trim 'as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is particularly satisfactory with plaster ceilings.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown the preferred mounting with an acoustical ceiling in which there is provided a surface ceiling plate instead of the flush aperture plate F.

The ceiling plate has an aperture 40 and it will be p0- sitioned substantially below the lower face 41 of the acoustical ceiling H.

The peripheral beveled edge 42 will be turned up to meet the face 41 of the ceiling and a series of screws 43 will be provided to fit into the tapped sockets 44 recessed into the acoustical ceiling structure H.

Either mounting, namely the flush mounting as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 or the surface ceiling plate mounting as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, will give the desired low brightness broad distribution lighting at a low horizontal plane.

The lighting fixtures as shown have broad application to stores, theatres, auditoriurns, banks, churches, residences, lobbies, hospitals, museums, schools, showrooms, ballrooms and restaurants where a uniform illumination is desirable, without undue brightness, at a substantial level below the ceiling.

As many changes could be made in the above recessed low brightness down light, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without de- 3 parting from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

A recessed low brightness down light received in and above the ceiling line comprising a downwardly concave compound involute curve reflector having a steeper curvature than 'a sphere, yet more shallow than an involute curve, and also having an upwardly extending cylindrical neck and having 'a socket box at the top thereof receiving an incandescent lamp, said reflector having a vertical central axis and outer and inner parallel concentric cylindrical bafiies having the same axis as said vertical 'axis and extending downwardly to and terminating at the ceiling line and a transverse annular bafile at the ceiling line and the lower edge of said reflector extending downwardly to the upper ends of the cylindrical bafiies and telescoping and encircling the outside of the upper ends of said cylindrical baffles, the lower end of said reflector having a shoulder contacting the upper end of the outer cylindrical bafile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,161 Rambusch et a1. Nov. 7, 1939 

